Tag Archives: believe

Last year, I asked God to test my faith. Not to give me what I want but to see more of Him. I get to know God more each day when I read the Bible but I wanted more. I wanted to know and experience God more in my own walk with Him. And so, I prayed for Him to take me to a more deep faith.

That’s 5 “more” there…

Just like when Elisha asked Elijah a double portion of his spirit, I asked God for more of Him.

Just rewinding a bit in 2012…

God gave me this burden to consider going for a full time ministry work. It is a privileged joy to be able to serve God fulltime. However, I also wanted to fulfill my own dreams for myself and for my family. I can’t see my dream getting realized if I’ll go fulltime.

In a retreat that year, we were asked to write something that we want to surrender to the Lord. Right there, God asked me to surrender my plans and dreams to Him, to just totally let go. It broke my heart. As I wrote and committed it to the Lord, I was in tears. I felt like a portion of me was taken away.

After that, I just told God, I have done my part, now do Yours.

Forwarding to 2013…

There were no doors opened for a full time ministry work. God even gave me a better opportunity for growth in my IT career. It was a dream role I never thought I could have. I thought maybe God wanted me to stay after all. I got so energized with my work that somehow I forgot that desire of going full time for a ministry.

Then latter part of the year, a door for a ministry job opened. Work in my company became stressful and “spiritually” exhausting. I applied for the ministry opportunity. I considered resigning.

Not certain if I’ll be accepted for the position, I took a big leap of faith and submitted my resignation. And on my last day at work, I received the news for my ministry application that I was not accepted.

That’s what happened when you asked God to test your faith. Things don’t go your way. But it allowed me to experience God in a very, very, very personal way. Indeed, He wanted me to grow deeper in my faith.

I asked God why He wanted me to resign when He knew that I will not be accepted for that ministry. The response I got from Him – your character, your heart, more important than where you will serve me. The condition of my heart was not pleasing to Him anymore. Disgusting enough that God, full of grace and love had to remove me from something I might not be able to handle.

As I started 2014, I have never been more uncertain with my life. But that’s when deeper faith happens. All I know is that I have a SOVEREIGN GOD who cares for my heart more than what I can bring to Him.

Remember that dream I surrendered in 2012? Years before that, I wanted to apply for a permanent residency in Canada. However, I did not make it to the 2 years of full work experience. I got short of 3 months. I told God that if He really wanted me to apply, He will find another way. Start of 2013, the qualification changed. From 2 years, they only required 1 year. I was qualified. Then, hesitation came. I told God I surrendered this dream to Him already. I’m choosing to go full time.

But God is just amazing. He used someone to push me to apply. Did you ever have that peace that transcends all understanding? I had this sudden peace in me, confirming that I’m doing the right thing. Amazingly, everything went so smooth with my application. And with all the uncertainties I had at the start of the year, I received an email last February. My application for Canada got approved.

I gave God a jaw-dropping expression (literally). A face in awe of SOMEONE I can never fathom and describe but very real, very personal.

I’m excited how this year will turn out to be. 2013 has been a very interesting, growing, exciting year for me. This year, I’m just letting God continue to mold me, surprise me, amaze me, change me. After all, that’s just the way HE is – An Extravagant, Loving Father.

Last year, my theme verse was Hebrews 11:1 as God took me to a deeper faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

I started this year – no job, plans surrendered, and full of uncertainties. I was only holding on to the ONE certainty in my life, my Lord and Savior Jesus.

This is my theme verse for 2014 – Philippians 3:7-8: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider lossfor the sake of Christ.What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowingChrist Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. “

Please pray for me as I seek God to give me a fresh vision before I leave for Canada. More than a fulfilled dream, this journey has always been about Him. I just want to make sure that when I move, I have a clear vision to remind me of why I went there in the first place.

Thank you to everyone who prayed with me on this journey. (Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God every time I remember you.”)

In this life, it only takes a faith as small as a mustard seed to believe that God loves you so much and He cares about you that He wants to be involved in all aspects of your life. God will not force you. You have to decide if you want to believe. (And, I hope you do.)

Howblessed is the man who has made theLordhis trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

Reflection:

Knowing God

God blesses the man who trusts in Him and who does not turn to the proud and those who lapse into falsehood

Many are God’s wonderful works and thoughts toward us, too numerous to count

God is incomparable

When you have trials in life, to whom do you first turn to?

Before I had a deep relationship with God, I always turn to my friends first whenever I have problems. I don’t even go to my family. And when I remember God, that’s only when I pray. However, this has changed when I realized that God is the only one who could sustain me in the midst of my problems.

Now, I always turn to God first and just pour out unto Him all my concerns. When we start trusting God, knowing that He is in control of everything, we will have peace, stillness and joy that we can’t explain. These are the blessings we can receive from God even if we are flooded with problems.

Then, I turn to the people whom God uses to help me in my problems. When we turn to people, let’s make sure that they will impart to us wisdom that comes from the Lord and not from the standard of the world (Andhas notturned to the proud, nor to those wholapse into falsehood.) It’s important that we pray to God to give us people who could give us godly counsel. I realized how blessed I am to be a part of a community of believers because there are people who will not just give me counsel but will also pray for me.

Have you been trusting God not just with your problems but with your whole life? Only God can understand the very depth of your heart. He will be pleased that you run to Him first. And if you feel like you don’t have anyone to turn to, always remember that God is just waiting for you. He hears you. And He will speak to you through the Bible. In the Bible, you will see how God has heard the cry of a lot of people and how He has helped them during difficult times. He will also do the same for you as long as you trust Him.

If you haven’t called to God, maybe, it’s time you call upon Him. Let this prayer guide you.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for always thinking about me even if I fail to remember you. Today, I commit that I will always run to you first – in my victories and trials. Thank you for the promise of blessings for those who trust in you. Teach me Lord to trust you always that I may walk not in the ways of this world but in Your ways. This I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Just this September, I was blessed with 2 weeks of vacation. A vacation that my friend, Anni and I had been planning even before I left Vancouver. Anni was visiting Philippines for the first time and we made sure she maximizes her whole stay. Well, I really hope she did. (Looks like… 😀 )

Just to back track a little bit, January of this year, I got challenged by Anni to do snowboarding. You can read my story – Overcoming Fear. I never wanted to do it because I felt like I might just injure myself and I simply can’t do it. But she somehow believed I might be able to do it. So, I took the challenge. Well, no regrets, so far.

Now, back to our September trip. We really had so much fun in the different places that we’ve been to. But as for me, my favorite would really be in Boracay. Anni wanted to try all the water sports, doesn’t matter how extreme it could be. She loves some challenge. I, myself, was never a risk taker. I like activities within my control. But when you’re with someone who is so excited in doing challenging things, it could get contagious. Well, except for one that she couldn’t really make me do – helmet diving. Big NO because I’m a bit claustrophobic.

It’s good to have someone who could give you that little kick and push to make you go out of your comfort zone, especially when you travel. 🙂 It’s not like someone is forcing you to do something you don’t want to do. It’s having someone believing in you that you can do it. Or else, you would miss all the fun. 🙂

Just like our Heavenly Father, He sometimes gives us a little push on our faith so that we take that step out of our comfort zone. It is only when we take that step that we will see what God was preparing for us. If you feel like no one believes in who you can be and what you can accomplish, trust that God does.

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” – Deut 31:6

No matter what kind of travel you are in right now, important is you try to conquer whatever it is that is hindering you to your destination. And if you know someone who needs to hear the words, “I believe in you.”, be sensitive and sincere. The power of encouragement can really make a difference. And I’m always grateful to God for the people around me who continue to encourage and believe in me. 🙂

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Here’s a glimpse of some of our Boracay adventures. I was really scared to do the para sailing but when we were at the top, I don’t want to go down anymore. I really enjoyed it. 🙂